Month: January 2014

Fowlers has been voted the Wholesaler of the Year by British motorcycle dealers for the second time in three years.

Trade magazine British Dealer News, which is distributed to 9,745 people employed in the motorcycle industry, invited readers to vote in the annual poll and presented awards based on the results.

Parts & Contact Centre Manager, Pete Aitkenhead, who has worked at Fowlers for 35 years, collected the award from TV presenter Steve Parrish and current MotoGP racer Scott Redding, in front of a packed audience of 350 motorcycle industry personnel at a ceremony held during Motorcycle Expo, the UK’s biggest trade event.

Following an agreement with BSA, Fowlers began distributing motorcycle parts in 1959 and the team of 25 parts advisors working with Pete shares approximately 300 years’ experience.

Today, Fowlers is the official UK parts distributor for Yamaha, Piaggio, Vespa, Gilera and Derbi. The company also supplies spares for Honda, Suzuki, KTM, Moto Guzzi, Aprilia and Triumph and carries substantial stocks of Kawasaki parts, plus clothing and accessories for all Piaggio Group brands too.

Fowlers has recently invested in an Electronic Parts Catalogue system [EPC], which trade customers can use to look up parts, check whether they are in stock and place orders. The EPC also highlights low stock, out of stock and discontinued lines.

Spearheading Duchinni’s completely updated collection of helmets for 2014 is the D963, which is available with a lightweight carbon fibre composite shell priced at £179.99.

Weighing just 1250g, the D963’s aerodynamic shell has vents to the top and chin bar, with channelling through the EPS liner for internal airflow, which exits through exhaust vents to the rear.

The wide anti-scratch/anti-fog double curvature visor offers excellent peripheral vision and has a quick-release mechanism, so it can be removed for cleaning or replacement in a matter of seconds without the need for tools.

Inside the D963 is a fully removable and washable moisture-wicking and anti-bacterial odour-free fabric lining, as well as a breath deflector and chin curtain, both of which are also removable.

Fastened with a micrometric adjustable quick release buckle, the Duchinni D963 is produced in five sizes; XS, S and M (which share the same external shell size) and L-XL, which have a larger outer shell.

The Duchinni D963 will also be available in plain white or black with a synthetic ABS and fibre composite shell, priced at £119.99.

RiDE, Britain’s most useful motorcycle magazine, has tested the Weise Montana Element heated gloves. The tester noted that heated grips only warm the palm, not the back of the hands, which are subjected to wind chill when riding. A problem solved by heated gloves. During real life on the road testing, RiDE reports that the Weise Montana Element heated gloves were;

Weise clothing has introduced several new lines for 2014, including a highly specified all-season touring jacket, a neon yellow textile jacket for riders who want to stand out and an armoured fashion jacket for women. Plus waterproof sport gloves too.

WEISE BORA

Designed to cope with British weather’s unpredictable seasons, the BORA jacket has a reliable ISOTEX waterproof/breathable drop lining and removable 140-gram thermal quilted lining to cope with rain and cold. Red detailing highlights this jacket’s technical features, such as the YKK® main central zipper that has a Velcro® and popper retained storm flap for total weather protection. Also picked out in red are the four external waterproof pockets and large rear pocket. Zipped ventilation on the chest, lower arms and torso can be opened up in hot conditions and warm air can escape through the exhaust vent across back. CE approved armour is fitted to shoulders, elbow and back. The Weise BORA is produced in sizes SM–5XL in gun/red and retails for £239.99 (including VAT).

aimed at riders who want to stand out from the traffic and is enhanced with reflective panels to chest, back and lower arm for added night-time visibility. Made from tough 600 denier fabric, the HORNET II features CE approved armour to shoulders, elbow and back. Like the BORA, it features a waterproof and breathable lining, storm-flap closureand removable 140-gram quilted thermal lining. Zipped ventilation to chest and lower arms is easyto operate, even with gloved hands, and an exhaust vent is provided across the back, while two chest pockets double as additional vents. There are two waterproof pockets at the waist plus a large rear pocket with zipper closure. The Hornet II comes in sizes SM-5XL, priced at £189.99.

ASCOT

With its quilted outer construction, the ASCOT looks like a ladies fashion jacket on the outside, but on the inside there is removable CE approved armour at shoulders, elbow and back as well as a detachable 80-gram quilted lining with sumptuous fleece backing, making this a practical and stylish riding jacket. Reliable YKK gold-coloured zippers feature throughout the ASCOT, which also has three external and two internal pockets. Available in sizes 8-18 in black, the ASCOT costs £149.99.

Also new for 2014, SHARK WP gloves combine sport specification with McTex wa

terproof, windproof

and breathable lining and the patented McFit technology fixture system that secures the inner lining without stitching so it won’t twist uncomfortably or pull free.

SHARK WP

Made from full grain leather, the SHARK WP gloves have the Knox SPS scaphoid protection system on the palms and integrated TPU reinforcement over the knuckles and fingers. A leather ‘bridge’ connects the ring and little fingers to prevent them bending apart in an accident, while stretch panels to base of thumb and top of hand aid fit and flexibility. The gloves are held securely in place by an adjustable Velcro® retained strap on the wrist and cuff. Available in sizes Sm-3XL at £109.99.